There’s so much to be said for music that changes your mood. This is one of the reasons that Roo Panes is one of those artists that I keep on returning to. My most recent encounter with the music of Roo Panes happened during a quiet moment alone, where I needed to get some headspace. I scrolled through my music library and remembered moments past, where I was soothed and comforted by the intricate vocal sounds and the rich, warm instrumentation of Little Giant, released in 2014. You told me "sing for the wind my love, fear not for tomorrow, Cos love's the journey of a lifetime, and where you finish isn't where you start”
The honesty and warmth of Panes’ voice is wrapped in gentle acoustic guitar and minimal piano melodies. The lyrical content is heavily repetitive, with many a line supported by rich vocal harmonies. These elements in combination with simple lyricism, steeped in meaning, create a feeling of grounding and peace in those who listen. Leonardo da Vinci famously described simplicity as being the ultimate sophistication, and Roo Panes’ writing is a great example of this principle in action.
Think I’ll write a tale of my own I’m going southbound to where the ocean’s flirting with the coast Tell me why, I’m underneath the tiger striped sky
Panes’ lyrics are laced with striking metaphors that lend themselves to visual interpretation. His voice is rich, warm and unedited. Particularly in the 2014 album, Little Giant, it feels almost as though Panes is in the same room as you. Such is the intimacy of the album.
Panes grew his following substantially after recording acoustic music for Burberry as well as modelling for them. His band currently consists of a guitarist, viola player, cellist and pianist and harmonium player. Roo is interactive with his fans, recently having run a lyric art competition on social media. You can find it on Twitter, under #Roolyrics.
The over-arching theme of Roo Panes’ work is a disarming “realness”. His work does not feel manufactured, although the cynic in me knows that a portion of it must be. But regardless of any marketing veneer, the meaning behind Roo’s music is rich in meaning and resonates with me upon every listen. His career is most certainly one worth following.
